Chapter 66: Probing the Bottom

To describe Zhu Shizhen's state as "overjoyed" would not be an exaggeration at all.

I had just arrived at the township government when Zhu Shizhen sent someone to call me, saying he had something to discuss. I was flattered; for a township head to ask to discuss something with you is the highest honor. What virtue or ability did I have? How could Zhu Shizhen be so condescending to a subordinate?

The township government had already finished work, and all the doors were dark.

"It's stuffy inside, let's go for a walk outside," Zhu Shizhen said, taking the lead. Passing the supply and marketing cooperative, a woman in a large floral skirt smiled at us fawningly, revealing a set of scarlet gums.

We walked for a long time, but Zhu Shizhen didn't speak. I knew he was waiting for me to speak first.

I said, "Township Head Zhu, what instructions do you have for me?"

Zhu Shizhen shook his palm-leaf fan, opened his shirt, and probed, "How is the situation in the county?"

I said nonchalantly, "I don't know the specific situation very well. I haven't seen anyone."

He let out an "oh" and said meaningfully, "You didn't see Secretary Liu?"

I nodded in response.

Zhu Shizhen tossed me a cigarette, lit it, blew a smoke ring, and said with great depth, "The work of this township government is complex and multifaceted. The cadres are accustomed to the work style of the past and don't like to open up to each other. They like to drag things out."

He stopped, looked back at me, and said, "You are a cadre sent down from the city; your work style is different from theirs. I'm thinking, you should offer some opinions on how we should change the current pattern."

I was surprised by his thinking and couldn't fathom it at all. Zhu Shizhen, what act are you putting on now?

"I'm thinking, in the future, we should implement a sign-in system for work. Those who don't come to work on time should be docked pay. The work style must not be lax. Once it becomes lax, nothing can be accomplished." I knew this wasn't the original intention he wanted to discuss with me; his subtext must still be hidden in his lungs.

I said, "Township Head Zhu, these aren't big things, and you are a person who does big things. Small matters like these can be handled by the township party office. Just issue a notice; who would dare to mess around?"

"The problem is, I am only a township head, and still just acting. I can't command the party office." Zhu Shizhen was infinitely melancholy, then suddenly seemed to remember something and stared at me, "Xiao Chen, you are the township government secretary, which is essentially the party office secretary."

I smiled bitterly. Indeed, I was the party office secretary, but I wasn't a party member. Being a non-party member serving as a party office secretary was a joke in itself. In the past, no one cared about this, only I myself felt faintly that it would be exposed sooner or later.

"You aren't a party member yet, are you?" Zhu Shizhen hit my weak spot further: "But you do very well, with higher ideological awareness than the average party member. The party needs talent like you. Join the party; I will be your introducer." He said it very sincerely, making me feel as if I were seeing a kind elder before me. My heart surged with excitement; for a township head to personally be one's introducer was another great honor.

I didn't say thank you. To be honest, I had been in Suxi Township for nearly three years, and I hadn't had much contact with Zhu Shizhen. I had heard some rumors about him, saying that this person was extremely fond of fawning over leaders and engaging in speculation, but he had been suppressed by Liu Quan in Suxi Township, so he had to stay in the position of Chairman of the People's Congress, living a life neither dead nor alive.

For those in office, one must have a backer at the top. Zhu Shizhen was also essentially from a grassroots background; where could he find a backer? But for a person, as long as they have the heart, there is nothing that cannot be done. Zhu Shizhen had the chance to visit Secretary Guan Peishan by accident, and from then on, he would visit the leader during every festival, bringing some local specialties along the way.

Secretary Guan didn't like him at first, thinking that this person was already over fifty and still a township-level cadre; even if he took a rocket, he probably wouldn't reach the moon, and his political future was long since dim. However, Zhu Shizhen visited every year, never saying such things, only expressing that visiting an old leader was a matter of human sentiment. Moreover, every time he would just sit down and say a few words, not caring whether Old Guan was at home or not, and after ten minutes, he would definitely leave. He wouldn't eat, and wouldn't even drink tea.

In this world, the most frightening thing is persistence. Zhu Shizhen persisted like this for several years, and Secretary Guan couldn't sit still anymore. He wanted to move the buttocks of this Chairman of the People's Congress from a remote township at a suitable opportunity, but unfortunately, there was never a position. It just so happened that Secretary Chen of the Municipal Committee talked to him about the electricity and road construction in Suxi Township, and his words were full of criticism. Such a big thing happened in such a big county, and he, as the secretary, knew nothing about it; it was truly worth considering.

Zhu Shizhen went to Secretary Guan's house on the night he returned to the county. It just so happened that Secretary Guan was at home. When asked about this, Zhu Shizhen reported the ins and outs in detail, and at the end, he mentioned the sponsorship money, saying that Liu Quan had misappropriated the sponsorship money to treat Township Head Hao's illness, and perhaps there were other uses. Anyway, under Liu Quan's dictatorial rule in Suxi Township, no one could speak up.

Hearing this, Secretary Guan remembered that he knew nothing about Suxi Township; it turned out that Liu Quan was the one playing tricks.

A fire burned in his heart, and the more he heard, the angrier he became. Finally, he slapped the coffee table, scaring Zhu Shizhen so much he nearly wet his pants.

Following that came the joint meeting of the County Committee, and a few days later, the County Discipline Inspection Commission went out to investigate. It was at this time that Zhu Shizhen justifiably became the acting township head.

I wasn't happy about Zhu Shizhen's proposal. Joining the party was indeed a good thing. My old man was a firm party member who had worked for the revolution his whole life, and now he spent every day in our less-than-fifty-square-meter hut, nagging with my mother.

I said, "Township Head Zhu, look at my conditions..."

Zhu Shizhen smiled without warmth and said, "Actually, as long as you get the township company sorted out and hand over what should be handed over, I guarantee you'll have no problem joining the party."

He finally revealed his bottom line. Hand over the township company? You wish!

"I heard from the Enterprise Office that the two girls you hired aren't cooperating with the work, and there are no account books. That's too careless. Xiao Chen," he said with concern, "After all, the company is a collective enterprise, not your personal individual business. People must never stumble over money; it's not worth it."

I nodded quickly and said, "Township Head Zhu, don't worry. I always remember that the company is collective, not my own, Chen Feng's. Whatever the township wants to do, I will absolutely cooperate unconditionally."

Zhu Shizhen nodded with satisfaction, patted my shoulder, and said, "Xiao Chen, you are young and have a bright future. Are you twenty this year?"

I said embarrassedly, "I'm twenty-five this year, eating the rice of twenty-six."

"How great!" he sighed, "When a person is young, they have the world. I heard you are in love with Teacher Xue; when are you planning to get married?"

I said, "I still want to work for a few more years; it's still early."

"It's not early. For a man, getting married and having children is both a responsibility and an obligation. I think you should hurry up. Teacher Xue is the most beautiful girl in our Suxi Township, and there are so many young male teachers in the school. Aren't you afraid of being poached?" Zhu Shizhen's tone became relaxed, teasing me.

I said confidently, "I'm not afraid."

After saying this, I apologized to him, "Township Head Zhu, thank you for the reminder. I have to go find Teacher Xue, lest I be poached and kept in the dark."

Zhu Shizhen waved at me and said magnanimously, "Go, go talk about your love; we'll find another time to talk about township work."

I ran away in a flash. I knew the ultimate purpose of Zhu Shizhen's talk with me. Knowing someone else's purpose is like seeing through their mind, making it easy to deal with them. Zhu Shizhen, you probably don't know that Secretary Liu Quan hasn't been "double-regulated" yet! If you knew, when Hu Hansan returns, let's see how much weight you, this township head, have!

I suddenly smiled evilly. ===== CHAPTER 67 =====